Game apparatus, game control method, and information recording medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a game apparatus suitable for pausing and resuming a game by use of a touch panel. A game apparatus has a touch detection part, a display part, and a pause part. The touch detection part detects the touch of the user on the screen. The display part displays a pause command button at a position different from the initial touch position on the screen so long as a touch is detected by the touch detection part. The pause part pauses the game when the touch detection part detects touch to the pause command button.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2010-197421, filed on Sep. 3, 2010, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

This application relates to a game apparatus and game control methodsuitable for pausing and resuming a game by use of a touch panel, and acomputer-readable non-transitory information recording medium on which aprogram is recorded.

BACKGROUND

In addition to using conventional keyboards and controllers, using atouch panel type input device that allows a user to perform an inputoperation by directly touching the display screen of an informationdevice as an input device for information devices such as computers andgame apparatuses has become popular.

In particular, recent compact information devices such as cell-phones,portable game machines, and smart-phones are being configured with atouch panel type input operation (for example, see Unexamined JapanesePatent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2010-92233).

Furthermore, portable game machines and smart-phones generally providegames using a touch panel. For example, in a racing game on asmart-phone, the user taps (touches with a finger) a field displayed onthe screen to select it and races on the course displayed on the screenassuming that the smart-phone body is a steering wheel. In many cases,the user may tap any point on the screen to pause the game while thegame is in progress.

However, during a game in which a user's moves may be extreme, forexample a user may accidentally touch the screen during a racing game.When the user accidentally touches the screen, it may cause the game topause. When the game pauses, it may disturb the flow of a game that isin progress.

In view of the above, an objective of the present invention is toprovide a game apparatus and game control method suitable for pausingand resuming a game by use of a touch panel, and a computer-readablenon-transitory information recording medium on which a program isrecorded.

SUMMARY

In order to achieve the above objective, a game apparatus according to afirst aspect of the present invention comprises a touch detection part,a display part, and a pause part, which are configured as follows.

The touch detection part detects a touch of a user on a screen. Forexample, in a smart-phone portable game machine including a touch paneltype input device, the touch detection part detects when the usertouches the screen with a finger or a touch pen, moves a finger or atouch pen that is touching the screen and releases a finger or a touchpen that is touching the screen therefrom, as well as the touch positionon the screen. Video images of the game the user is playing aredisplayed on the screen.

The display part displays a pause command button at a position differentfrom the initial touch position on the screen, while a touch is detectedby the touch detection part. In the above example, the expression “whilea touch is detected by the touch detection part” means “while the useris touching the screen with a finger or a touch pen.” “The initial touchposition on the screen” is the position where the user first touches thescreen while the game is in progress. The expression “while the game isin progress” means, for example, in the case of the abovementionedracing game, “during a race on the course on the screen.” In otherwords, in the event that the user unintentionally touches the screenduring a race on the course on the screen in a racing game, the displaypart displays a pause command button at a position different from thetouch position. Consequently, when the user unintentionally touches thescreen, the game is not immediately paused. A pause command button isalways displayed while the user is touching the screen.

The pause part pauses the game when a touch of the pause command buttonis detected by the touch detection part. In other words, the game ispaused, for example, when the user slides a finger from the initialtouch position and to touch the pause command button. Alternatively, theuser can touch the screen with a finger to display a pause commandbutton and tap the pause command button with another finger to pause thegame. Furthermore, it is possible for the user to slide a finger fromthe initial touch position onto the pause command button, place thefinger on the pause command button, and then release the finger in orderto pause.

The cancelation of a paused game, namely resuming a game can beaccomplished by a configuration whereby a resume command button isdisplayed in place of the pause command button while the game is pausedand tapping the resume command button to resume the game. Alternatively,the user may touch the resume command button for a predetermined periodof time in order to resume the game.

According to the present invention, a game does not pause unless theuser intends for there to be a pause. Thus, the user can continue toenjoy playing even when he/she unintentionally touches the screen whileplaying a game. On the other hand, the user can pause a game by tappingthe pause command button displayed on the screen when the screen istouched.

In order to achieve the above objective, the game apparatus of thepresent invention comprises a tilt detection part, a storage part, and aresume part, which are configured as follows.

The tilt detection part may detect the tilt of the game apparatus. Forexample, in the abovementioned racing game, when setting the gameapparatus as a steering wheel, the tilt needs to be detected. The userplays the game by adjusting the tilt of the game apparatus in accordancewith the course displayed on the screen.

The storage part may store the tilt of the game apparatus that isdetected by the tilt detection part when the game is paused. In otherwords, the storage part stores the tilt of the game apparatus when theuser pauses the game by use of the pause command button, namely at themoment the game is being paused. Consequently, the tilt of the gameapparatus corresponds to the progress of the game at the time the pausedgame (hereinafter, simply referred to as, “at the time of pausing”) isstored.

The resume part may resume the game when the tilt detected by the tiltdetection part while the game is paused is equal to the tilt stored inthe storage part. For example, in the case of a game using the tilt ofthe game apparatus, if the tilt of the game apparatus at the time ofresuming of the game is not equal to the tilt of the game apparatus atthe time of pausing, the game may be resumed without the tilt of thegame apparatus being suitable for progress of the game at the time ofpausing. In the case of the abovementioned racing game, the game may beresumed without the tilt of the game apparatus, namely the user cannotresume the game on the screen comfortably with respect to having thesteering of the steering wheel comfortably match the curve of the courseon which the vehicle is racing. Therefore, the resume part is configuredto resume the game only when the tilt of the game apparatus at the timeof resuming of the game is equal to the tilt of the game apparatus atthe time of pausing. Consequently, when the tilt of the game apparatusat the time of resuming of the game is equal to the tilt of the gameapparatus at the time of pausing, the user can resume play smoothly.

According to the above configuration, while the game is paused thedisplay part may display a fixed symbol fixed on the screen of the gameapparatus and a movable symbol moving according to the tilt on thescreen of the game apparatus, and may display the movable symbol overthe fixed symbol when the tilt detected by the tilt detection part whilethe game is paused is equal to the tilt stored in the storage part.

The above configuration makes it easier for the user to visuallyperceive the tilt of the game apparatus at the time of pausing. It isdesirable to determine the display position of the fixed symbol on thescreen based on the tilt of the game apparatus at the time of pausing,namely the tilt stored in the storage part. For example, if the gameapparatus is tilted at the time of pausing, the fixed symbol isdisplayed on one end of the screen of the game apparatus in thedirection along the tilt of the game apparatus (in a gravitationaldirection). Consequently, seeing the position of the fixed symbol allowsthe user to understand the direction that the game apparatus was tiltedat the time of pausing. Next, seeing the position of the fixed symbol,allows the user to recognize the direction that the game apparatus wastilted at the time of pausing, which in turn allows the user tounderstand the direction that the game apparatus should be tilted at thetime of resuming.

The resume part resumes the game when the movable symbol is placed overthe fixed symbol for a predetermined period of time. In other words, inorder to resume the game, the user tilts the game apparatus so that themovable symbol coincides with the fixed symbol for a predeterminedperiod of time. Consequently, being able to easily match the tilt of thegame apparatus at the time of pausing with that at the time of resumingallows the user to smoothly resume play.

According to the game apparatus of the present invention, the displaypart change the first display position of the pause command button onthe screen according to the tilt detected by the tilt detection part.

In other words, the display part displays the pause command button at aposition different from the initial user touch position on the screenand corresponding to the tilt of the game apparatus, for example, at aposition on the screen which counters the tilt (an anti-gravitationalposition), or in the center of the screen when there is no tilt.Consequently, by tilting the game apparatus at the time of pausing, theuser can set the first display position of the pause command button toany position.

Furthermore, according to the game apparatus of the present invention,the display part may move the display position of the pause commandbutton on the screen according to the tilt detected by the tiltdetection part.

In other words, the display part moves the pause command button from thefirst display position on the screen according to the tilt of the gameapparatus, for example, in the direction along the tilt of the gameapparatus (in a gravitational direction). Consequently, by tilting thegame apparatus at the time of pausing, the user can move and display thepause command button at any position on the screen.

Furthermore, according to the game apparatus of the present invention,the display part may display the pause command button so as to approachthe initial touch position over a predetermined period of time while thescreen is being touched.

In other words, when the user continues to touch the screen at theinitial touch position, the display part moves the pause command buttontoward that position. Consequently, in order to pause the game, the usersimply continuously touches the first touch position until the pausecommand button approaches, whereby the user can pause the game withoutmoving his/her finger or touch pen. It is possible to move the pausecommand button toward any position on the screen, rather than just theinitial touch position, where the user continuously touches for apredetermined period of time.

In order to achieve the above objective, the game control methodaccording to a second exemplary aspect of the present invention is agame control method executed by a game apparatus capable of pausing andresuming the progress of a game. The game apparatus includes a touchdetection part, a display part, and a pause part. The game controlmethod includes a detection step, a display step, and a pause step.

In the detection step, the touch detection part detects a touch of auser to a screen. In the display step, the display part displays a pausecommand button at a position different from the initial touch positionon the screen while a touch is detected by the touch detection part. Inthe pause step, the pause part pauses the game when a touch of the pausecommand button is detected by the touch detection part.

In order to achieve the above objective, the program according to athird aspect of the present invention allows a computer to function as agame apparatus capable of pausing and resuming the progress of a game,and configures a computer to execute the above steps of the game controlmethod. The program allows a computer to function as a touch detectionpart detecting a touch of a user on a screen, a display part displayinga pause command button at a position different from the initial touchposition on the screen while a touch is detected by the detection part,and a pause part pausing the game when a touch of the pause commandbutton is detected by the touch detection part.

The program of the present invention can be recorded on acomputer-readable non-transitory information storage medium such as acompact disc, flexible disc, hard disc, magneto-optical disc, digitalvideo disc, magnetic tape, and semiconductor memory.

The above program can be distributed/sold independently from a computeron which the program is executed via a transfer medium such as acomputer communication network. Furthermore, the above informationstorage medium can be distributed/sold independently from the computer.

The present invention can provide a game apparatus and game controlmethod suitable for pausing and resuming a game by use of a touch panel,and a computer-readable non-transitory information recording medium onwhich a program is recorded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present application can be obtainedwhen the below-mentioned detailed description is considered withreference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration of a typicalportable terminal unit in which a game apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention is realized;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a typical portable terminalunit realizing the functions of the game apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the gameapparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an exemplary display position of a pausecommand button;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an exemplary display of a resume commandbutton;

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a touch of the user on the pause commandbutton;

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the touch of the user on the pause commandbutton;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a game process in the game apparatus ofEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a pause procedure in the game apparatus ofEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a resume procedure in the game apparatus ofEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing the pause command button approaching a usertouch position;

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing the pause command button approaching theuser touch position;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the gameapparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing an exemplary display of a fixed symbol anda movable symbol immediately after a pause;

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an exemplary display of the fixed symboland the movable symbol during a pause;

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an exemplary display of the fixed symboland the movable symbol immediately after a pause;

FIG. 12B is a diagram showing an exemplary display of the fixed symboland the movable symbol during a pause;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the pause procedure in the game apparatus ofEmbodiment 2;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the resume procedure in the game apparatus ofEmbodiment 2;

FIG. 15A is a diagram showing the pause command button moving inaccordance with the tilt of the game apparatus; and

FIG. 15B is a diagram showing the pause command button moving inaccordance with the tilt of the game apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present invention will be described hereafter.Although a portable terminal unit is used to describe embodiments forrealizing the present invention for the sake of easier understanding,the embodiments below are for the purpose of explanation alone andtherefore the scope of the present invention is not to be confinedthereto. A person of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognizethat the embodiments of the present application may be modified so as toreplace each component with an equivalent thereof, and that such amodification or variation is also included within the scope of theseembodiments.

Examples of a portable terminal unit in which the game apparatusaccording to the present invention is realized include portabletelephones, game machines, and other types of portable terminal unitshaving a touch panel.

Embodiment 1

A portable terminal unit 100 according to present embodiment will bedescribed hereafter with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The portable terminal unit 100 comprises a wireless communication part101, a communication controller 102, a sound amplifier 103, a speaker104, an operation key 105, a screen 106, a touch panel 107, anacceleration sensor 108, and a control part 150.

The wireless communication part 101 is used for wireless communicationwith the wireless communication parts of other portable terminal units.The wireless communication part 101 transmits/receives given data via anantenna (not shown) built in the portable terminal unit 100. Thewireless communication part 101 may perform wireless communication witha given access point. Furthermore, the wireless communication part 101has a unique MAC (media access control) address.

The communication controller 102 controls the wireless communicationpart 101 and mediates wireless communication between the control part150 and the control parts of other portable terminal units so as toremain in conformity with a given protocol. Furthermore, when theportable terminal unit 100 is connected to the Internet via a nearbywireless access point, the communication controller 102 mediateswireless communication between the control part 150 and wireless accesspoint so as to remain in conformity with a wireless LAN (local areanetwork) protocol.

The sound amplifier 103 amplifies sound signals generated by the controlpart 150 and supplies them to the speaker 104. The speaker 104 iscomposed of, for example, a stereo speaker, and outputs given soundeffects, music, and voices according to sound signals amplified by thesound amplifier 103. The user can hear voices from the speaker 104 shownin FIG. 2 during a call.

The operation key 105 is composed of, for example, a key switch which isproperly provided on the portable terminal unit 100. The operation key105 receives input of given instructions such as power-on/off and mannermode shifting of the portable terminal unit 100 according to theoperation.

The screen 106 is composed of an LCD and properly displays givenselection buttons and the like under the control of an LCD controller156 that will be described later. The screen 106 further displaysselection buttons (icons) which are necessary for the user to touch forinput of selection commands.

The touch panel 107 is superimposed on the front face of the screen 106and receives input with a touch pen or a user's finger. The touch panel107 is composed of, for example, a pressure-sensitive touch sensor panelthat detects pressure from a touch pen or the like. The touch panel 107identifies a touch operation, such as touch, and the position thereof(touch position). The touch panel 107 may detect/identify the touch of auser's finger or the like from a change in capacitance.

The acceleration sensor 108 is built in the portable terminal unit 100and capable of measuring the axial movement of the portable terminalunit 100. In other words, the acceleration sensor 108 measures themovement of the portable terminal unit 100 while being moved, rotated,or tilted from the horizontal direction by the user. The measurementresults are supplied to the control part 150 and used in the processexecuted by the image processing part 152 to create image data inaccordance with the measurement results. In place of the accelerationsensor 108, an angular acceleration sensor or tilt sensor can be used tomeasure the movement of the portable terminal unit 100.

The control part 150 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a CPU (central processingunit) 151, an image processing part 152, a sound processing part 153, aROM (read only memory) 154, a RAM (random access memory) 155, an LCDcontroller 156, and a touch panel controller 157.

The CPU 151 is connected to the components of the portable terminal unit100 and controls the operation of the entire portable terminal unit 100.Furthermore, the CPU 151 exchanges control signals and data with thecomponents of the portable terminal unit 100.

The image processing part 152 processes, for example, image data readfrom the ROM 154 or image data processed by the CPU 151. Next, the imageprocessing part 152 stores the image data in the RAM 155. It is possibleto directly output image data from the image processing part 152 to thescreen 106.

The sound processing part 153 processes, for example, sound data readfrom the ROM 154 or music data processed by the CPU 151. Then, the soundprocessing part 153 stores them in the RAM 155. It is possible todirectly output sound data from the sound processing part 153 to thesound amplifier 103.

The ROM 154 stores, for example, control programs and data necessary forselecting items displayed on the screen 106 and outputs them to the CPU151 and RAM 155.

The RAM 155 stores image data processed by the image processing part 152for display and work data for the CPU 151 to execute various proceduresaccording to programs. The RAM 155 outputs the data to the CPU 151 andscreen 106.

The LCD controller 156 controls the screen 106 to display given displayimages. For example, the LCD controller 156 converts image data storedin the RAM 155 to display signals at predetermined synchronized timesand outputs the data to the screen 106. Furthermore, the LCD controller156 controls the screen 106 to display given selection buttons.

The touch panel controller 157 detects/identifies touch (touchoperation) of a touch pen or a user's finger to the touch panel 107. Forexample, the touch panel controller 157 detects touch/release(separation) to/from the touch panel 107 and identifies the positionthereof while given selection buttons are displayed on the screen 106.

A game apparatus 300 of the present invention is realized by theportable terminal unit 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The generalconfiguration of the game apparatus 300 will be described hereafter withreference to FIG. 3.

The game apparatus 300 comprises a touch detection part 301, a tiltdetection part 302, a display part 303, a pause part 304, and a resumepart 305.

The touch detection part 301 detects touch of the user 306 on the screendisplay part 106. More specifically, when the user 306 touches thescreen 106 with a finger or a touch pen, the touch panel 107 that issuperimposed on the screen 106 receives a change in pressure orcapacitance due to the touch. The touch panel controller 157 detects atouch and/or release of thereof, and the touch position on the screen106.

In other words, the function of the touch detection part 301 is realizedby the touch panel 107 cooperating with the touch panel controller 157.The detected touch and touch position are supplied to the display part303, pause part 304, and resume part 305.

The tilt detection part 302 detects the tilt of the game apparatus 300.More specifically, for example, when the user 306 holds and operates theportable terminal unit 100, the acceleration sensor 108 built in theportable terminal unit 100 detects change in the position and/ororientation of the portable terminal unit 100 moved and/or rotated.

The display part 303 displays a pause command button 400 describedhereinafter at a position different from the initial touch position onthe screen 106 while the touch detection part 301 is detecting a touch.The initial touch position on the screen 106 is the position on thescreen 106 where the user made the first touch during a game that is inprogress. The expression “while the game is in progress” means, forexample in the case of the abovementioned racing game, during a race onthe course on the screen 106. In other words, in such a case, if theuser 306 unintentionally touches the screen 106 during a race on thecourse on the screen 106 in a racing game, the display part 303 displaysa pause command button 400 at a position different from that of thetouched position.

FIG. 4A shows an exemplary display position of the pause command button400. In this example, a position 402, where the user touches the screen106 with a finger, is the initial touch position. With regard to thisinitial touch position 402, a pause command button 400 is displayed inthe top left corner of the screen 106 on the plane of the sheet. Thepause command button 400 can be displayed at any position other than theinitial touch position 402. The display position can be set according tothe location of the initial touch position 402. The pause command button400 is constantly displayed as long as the user 306 continues to touchthe screen 106 with a finger or a touch pen.

In other words, the function of the display part 303 is realized asfollows: the detection information is received from the touch detectionpart 301, and the image data of the pause command button 400 recorded inthe RAM 155 is read by the CPU 151 and output to the screen 106 via theLCD controller 156.

The pause part 304 pauses the game when the touch detection part 301detects a touch of the pause command button 400. More specifically, forexample, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the game is paused when the user306 touches the pause command button 400 by sliding a finger from theinitial touch position 402.

The user 306 can touch the screen 106 with a finger to display a pausecommand button 400 and tap the pause command button 400 with anotherfinger to pause the game. Alternately, the user 306 can slide a fingerfrom the initial touch position 402 to the pause command button 400,place the finger on the pause command button 400, and release the fingerto pause the game.

In other words, the pause part 304 receives the detection informationfrom the touch detection part 301, to thereby pause the game.

The display part 303 displays a resume command button 401 on the screen106 in place of the pause command button 400 after the pause part 304pauses the game. The resume command button 401 can be displayed at anyposition on the screen 106. FIG. 4B shows an exemplary display of aresume control button.

In other words, the above function of the display part 303 is realizedas follows: the pause information is received from the pause part 304,the image processing part 152 deletes display of the pause commandbutton 400, and the image data of the resume command button 401 recordedin the RAM 155 is read by the CPU 151 and output to the screen 106 viathe LCD controller 156.

The resume part 305 resumes the game when the touch detection part 301detects a touch of the resume command button 401. More specifically, forexample, the user 306 taps the resume command button 401.

In other words, the resume part 305 receives the detection informationfrom the touch detection part 301 during the pause, to thereby resumethe game.

The display part 303 receives resume information from the resume part305 upon resumption and the image processing part 152 deletes display ofthe resume command button 401.

An embodiment of the above-described process of the game apparatus 300will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6.

First, as the portable terminal unit 100 is powered on and the CPU 151reads programs from the RAM 155, multiple items among which the user 306can make a selection are displayed on the screen 106. As the user 306selects a game among the multiple items, the selected game is activatedand initialized (Step S601).

Then, the user 306 selects the play contents and settings of theselected game by tapping the screen 106 and he/she starts to play (StepS602).

After the user starts to play, the touch detection part 301 determineswhether or not the user 306 has touched the screen 106, namely whether afinger or a touch pen of the user 306 has touched the screen 106(namely, the touch panel 107) (Step S603).

If a touch of the screen 106 by the user 306 is not detected (Step 603;NO), the game apparatus 300 assumes that the game is in progress anddetects change in the tilt of the game apparatus 300 (Step S604). Inother words, the tilt detection part 302 detects change in the positionor tilt of the entire portable terminal unit 100 moved or rotated by thehands of the user 306.

The game apparatus 300 updates the game status in accordance with thetilt detected by the tilt detection part 302 (Step S605). In otherwords, the game status refers to the position, size, and shape of imagesdisplayed on the screen 106 while the game is being played. As describedabove, in a game using a change in the tilt of the game apparatus 300,the game status is updated in accordance with the tilt.

On the other hand, the image processing part 152 creates images inaccordance with the updated game status (Step S606). More specifically,the image data presenting the position, size, and shape of imagesdisplayed on the screen 106 is processed by the image processing part152. The processed image data is output to the screen 106 (Step S607).

If a touch of the user 306 on the screen 106 is detected (Step S603;YES), the game apparatus 300 performs a pause procedure to pause theongoing game (Step S608) and, subsequently performs a resume procedure(Step S609).

The pause procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart inFIG. 7.

If a touch of the screen 106 is detected in Step S603 of FIG. 6, thedisplay part 303 displays a pause command button 400 at a positiondifferent from the initial touch position 402 on the screen 106 as shownin FIG. 4A so long as a touch is detected by the touch detection part301 (Step S701).

Next, the touch detection part 301 determines whether there is a touchof a finger or a touch pen of the user 306 in order to the pause commandbutton 400 (Step S702).

If no touch of the pause command button 400 is detected (Step S702; NO),the display part 303 returns to the Step S701 and continues to displaythe pause command button 400. In other words, even if the user 306 istouching the screen 106, the display part 303 continues to display thepause command button 400 unless the user 306 touches the pause commandbutton 400.

When a touch of the pause command button 400 is detected (Step S702;YES), the game is paused by the pause part 304 (Step S703). Morespecifically, the game is paused as the user 306 touches the pausecommand button 400 by sliding a finger from the initial touch position402, as shown in FIG. 5. Afterwards, the resume procedure is performed.

The resume procedure will be described with reference to the flowchartin FIG. 8.

As the pause part 304 pauses the game, the display part 303 displays aresume command button 401, as shown in FIG. 4B, in place of the pausecommand button 400 (Step S801).

Then, the touch detection part 301 determines whether there is a touchof a finger or a touch pen of the user 306 to the resume command button401 (Step S802).

If no touch of the resume command button 401 is detected (Step S802;NO), the display part 303 returns to the Step S801 and continues todisplay the resume command button 401. In other words, even if the user306 is touching the screen 106, the display part 303 continues todisplay the resume command button 401 unless the user 306 touches theresume command button 401.

If a touch of the resume command button 401 is detected (Step S802;YES), the resume part 305 resumes the game (Step S803). Morespecifically, the game resumes as the user 306 taps the resume commandbutton 401. As the game resumes, the display part 303 deletes the resumecommand button 401. Then, the game is in progress.

In the game apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment, a pausecommand button 400 is displayed at a position different from the initialtouch position 402, even if the user 306 unintentionally touches thescreen 106 while playing a game. Therefore, the user 306 can continue toplay comfortably without any chance of accidentally touching the pausecommand button 400 and causing the game to pause. When the user wants topause the game, the user 306 taps the pause command button 400 displayedon the screen 106 while touching the screen 106. Furthermore, by tappinga resume command button 401 displayed during the pause, the game isresumed.

In a modified embodiment of present embodiment, the display part 303displays the pause command button 400 so as to approach the initialtouch position 402 over a period of time where the user 306 is touchingthe screen 106.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show such an example. The display part 303 moves thepause command button 400 toward the touch position 402 as the user 306keeps his/her finger at the initial touch position 402 on the screen106. In this way, if the user 306 wants to pause the game, he/she keepsthe finger at the initial touch position 402 so that the pause commandbutton 400 approaches, and the user can pause the game without movinghis/her finger. So long as a touch lasts for a predetermined period oftime, any position on the screen can be used as the approaching positionof the pause command button 400, rather than the initial touch position402.

Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 will be described hereafter. Embodiment 2 is different fromEmbodiment 1 with respect to the structure, function, and proceduresteps of the resume procedure of the game apparatus 300. The otherconfiguration is the same as in Embodiment 1.

As shown in FIG. 10, a game apparatus 1000 of present embodimentincludes a touch detection part 1001, a tilt detection part 1002, adisplay part 1003, a pause part 1004, and a resume part 1005, and astorage part 1006.

The storage part 1006 retrieves and stores the tilt of the gameapparatus 1000 from the tilt detection part 1002 when the game is pausedby the pause part 1004.

In other words, the function of the storage 1006 is realized as follows:the pause information is received from the pause part 1004, and the tiltof the game apparatus 1000 is retrieved from the tilt detection part1002 and stored in the RAM 155.

The display part 1003 displays a fixed symbol 1107 fixed on the screen106 and a movable symbol 1108 moving on the screen 106 according to thetilt detected by the tilt detection part 1002 on the screen of the gameapparatus 1000 while the game is paused.

The display position of the fixed symbol 1107 on the screen 106 variesdepending on the tilt of the game apparatus 1000 at the time of pausing.In other words, the position of the fixed symbol 1107 is determinedbased on the tilt stored in the storage part 1006. The movable symbol1108 is displayed over the fixed symbol 1107 immediately after the gameis paused. The user 306 tilts the game apparatus 1000 during a pause,and the movable symbol 1108 moves around on the screen 106 in accordancewith the tilt.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show exemplary display of the fixed symbol 1107 andmovable symbol 1108. In the example of FIG. 11, it is assumed that theuser 306 starts the game while holding the screen 106 of the portableinformation terminal 100 parallel to the ground. FIG. 11A indicates thatthe user 306 has tilted the right short side of the portable informationterminal 100 in the gravitational direction while playing the game, andthen paused the game. As shown in FIG. 11A, the fixed symbol 1107 andmovable symbol 1108 overlap with each other immediately after the gameis paused. However, as the user 306 returns the portable informationterminal 100 to being parallel with the ground, the movable symbol 1108moves in an arrowed direction that is indicated in FIG. 11B.

On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 12, it is assumed that theuser 306 starts the game while holding the portable information terminal100 with the long side parallel to the ground and the screen 106perpendicular to the ground. FIG. 12A indicates that the user 306 hastilted the long side of the portable information terminal 100 in thegravitational direction while playing the game, and then paused thegame. Similarly to the example shown in FIG. 11A, the fixed symbol 1107and movable symbol 1108 overlap with each other immediately after thegame is paused. However, as the user 306 returns the long side of theportable information terminal 100 to being parallel with the ground, themovable symbol 1108 moves in an arrowed direction that is indicated inFIG. 12B. Although the fixed symbol 1107 and movable symbol 1108 arecircles in the present embodiment, the shapes thereof may change whereappropriate.

In other words, the function of the display part 1003 is realized asfollows: the pause information is received from the pause part 1004, theimage processing part 152 deletes the pause command button 400, and theimage data of the fixed symbol 1107 and the movable symbol 1108 recordedin the RAM 155 is read by the CPU 151 and output to the screen 106 viathe LCD controller 156. The display position of the fixed symbol 1107 isdetermined based on tilt information from the storage part 1006. Thedisplay position of the movable symbol 1108 on the screen 106 is changedby the image processing part 152 based on the tilt information from thetilt detection part 1002.

The resume part 1005 resumes the game when the movable symbol 1108 isplaced over the fixed symbol 1107 for a predetermined period of timeduring a pause.

In other words, the resume part 1005 resumes the game when the tiltdetected by the tilt detection part 1002 while the game is paused isequal to the tilt stored in the storage part 1006 for a predeterminedperiod of time (for example, 2 seconds).

Furthermore, the display part 1003 receives resume information from theresume part 1005, and the image processing part 152 deletes the fixedsymbol 1107 and movable symbol 1108. The other configuration is the sameas in Embodiment 1.

An embodiment of the above-described pause and resume procedures of thegame apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to the flowchartsshown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Other than the pause and resume procedures,the process is the same as in Embodiment 1.

First, during the pause procedure, if a touch of the screen 106 isdetected in the Step S603 of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 5, the displaypart 302 displays a pause command button 400 at a position differentfrom the initial touch position 402 on the screen 106 so long as a touchis detected the touch detection part 301 (Step S1301).

Then, the touch detection part 301 determines whether a finger or atouch pen of user 306 touches the pause command button 400 (Step S1302).

If no touch of the pause command button 400 is detected (Step S1302;NO), the display part 303 returns to the Step S1301 and continues todisplay the pause command button 400.

If a touch of the pause command button 400 is detected (Step 1302; YES),the storage part 1006 of the game apparatus 1000 retrieves and storesthe tilt of the game apparatus 1000 from the tilt detection part 1002when the touch to the pause command button 400 is detected (Step S1303).

Once the tilt is stored, the game is paused by the pause part 1004 (StepS1304). More specifically, as in Embodiment 1, which is shown in FIG.5B, the game is paused when the user 306 touches the pause commandbutton 400 sliding a finger from the initial touch position 402.Subsequently, the resume procedure is performed.

During the resume procedure, the display part 1003 displays the fixedsymbol 1007 and movable symbol 1108 that overlap each other, as shown inFIG. 11A or 12A, immediately after the pause part 1004 pauses the game(Step S1401).

During a pause, as the user 306 tilts the game apparatus 1000 (portableinformation terminal 100), the movable symbol 1108 moves around on thescreen 106 according to the tilt (Step S1402). When the movable symbol1108 moves around outside the fixed symbol 1107, the tilt of the gameapparatus 1000 is not equal to the tilt at the time of a pause.

Next, the resume part 1005 determines whether the movable symbol 1108 isplaced over the fixed symbol 1107 for a predetermined period of time,namely whether the tilt of the game apparatus 1000 during a pause isequal to the tilt at the time of a pause for a predetermined period oftime (Step S1403).

If the tilt of the game apparatus 1000 during a pause is not equal tothe tilt at the time of a pause for a predetermined period of time (StepS1403; NO), the game remains paused, and the display part 1005 returnsto the Step S1402 and continues to display the fixed symbol 1107 andmovable symbol 1108. In other words, the game remains paused unless theuser 306 tilts the game apparatus 1000 so that the movable symbol 1108is placed over the fixed symbol 1107 for a predetermined period of time.

If the tilt of the game apparatus 1000 during a pause is equal to thetilt at the time of a pause for a predetermined period of time (StepS1403; YES), the resume part 1005 resumes the game (Step S1404). Morespecifically, the game resumes after the user 306 keeps tilting the gameapparatus 1000 so that the movable symbol 1108 is placed over the fixedsymbol 1107 for a predetermined period of time. Consequently, the gamecontinues. Then, the display part 1003 discontinues the display of thefixed symbol 1107 and movable symbol 1108.

The game apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment makes iteasier for the user to visually perceive the tilt of the game apparatus1000 at the time of a pause. For resuming the game, the user 306 tiltsthe game apparatus 1000 to place the movable symbol 1108 over the fixedsymbol 1107 for a predetermined period of time. Consequently, since theuser 306 can easily match the tilt of the game apparatus 1000 at thetime of a pause with that at the time of resumption, it allows forsmooth resumption of game play.

Modified Embodiments

The present invention is not confined to the above-described Embodiments1 and 2. Accordingly, it should be noted that various modifications ofthe present invention are possible.

For example, in Embodiment 1, a pause command button 400 is displayed assoon as the user 306 touches the screen 106. A pause command button 400can be displayed after the screen is touched for a predetermined periodof time, for example 2 seconds.

Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, the game is resumed based on the tilt ofthe game apparatus 1000. This can be combined with the tapping of theresume button 401 as in Embodiment 1.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, the display part may change the firstdisplay position of the pause command button on the screen according tothe tilt detected by the tilt detection part.

In other words, the display part displays a pause command button at aposition different from the initial user touch position on the screenand corresponding to the tilt of the game apparatus, for example, at aposition on the screen against the tilt (an anti-gravitational point),or in the center where there is no tilt.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, the display part may moves the displayposition of the pause command button on the screen according to the tiltdetected by the tilt detection part.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show examples of the above. In other words, thedisplay part 303 moves the pause command button 400 from the firstdisplay position on the screen 106 according to the tilt of the gameapparatus 300 in the direction along the tilt of the game apparatus 300(in the gravitational direction). Consequently, the user 306 can displaythe pause command button 400 at any position on the screen 106 bytilting the game apparatus 300 at the time of a pause.

Furthermore, the display part can be configured into a combination ofthe above configuration and one in which the pause command buttonapproaches the initial touch position over a time period where the useris touching the screen.

As described above, the present invention can provide a game apparatusand game control method suitable for pausing and resuming a game by useof a touch panel, and a computer-readable non-transitory informationrecording medium on which a program thereof is recorded.

Having described and illustrated the principles of this application byreference to one (or more) preferred embodiment(s), it should beapparent that the preferred embodiments may be modified in arrangementand detail without departing from the principles disclosed herein andthat it is intended that the application be construed as including allsuch modifications and variations insofar as they come within the spiritand scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game apparatus capable of pausing and resumingthe progress of a game, the apparatus comprising: a touch detection partdetecting a touch of a user on a screen; a display part displaying apause command button at a position different from the initial touchposition on the screen while a touch is detected by the touch detectionpart; and a pause part pausing the game when a touch of the pausecommand button is detected by the touch detection part.
 2. The gameapparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a tilt detection partdetecting the tilt of the game apparatus; a storage part storing thetilt of the game apparatus that is detected by the tilt detection partwhen the game is paused; and a resume part resuming the game when thetilt detected by the tilt detection part while the game is paused isequal to the tilt stored in the storage part.
 3. The game apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein while the game is paused the display partdisplays a fixed symbol fixed on the screen of the game apparatus and amovable symbol moving according to the tilt on the screen of the gameapparatus, and displays the movable symbol over the fixed symbol whenthe tilt detected by the tilt detection part while the game is paused isequal to the tilt stored in the storage part.
 4. The game apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the resume part resumes the game when themovable symbol is placed over the fixed symbol for a predeterminedperiod of time.
 5. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplay part changes the first display position of the pause commandbutton on the screen according to the tilt detected by the tiltdetection part.
 6. The game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplay part moves the display position of the pause command button onthe screen according to the tilt detected by the tilt detection part. 7.The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display partdisplays the pause command button so as to approach the initial touchposition over a predetermined period of time while the screen is beingtouched.
 8. A game control method executed by a game apparatus capableof pausing and resuming the progress of a game, wherein the gameapparatus comprises: a touch detection part; a display part; and a pausepart, and the game control method comprises: a detection step in whichthe touch detection part detects a touch of a user on a screen; adisplay step in which the display part displays a pause command buttonat a position different from the initial touch position on the screenwhile a touch is detected by the touch detection part; and a pause stepin which the pause part pauses the game when a touch of the pausecommand button is detected by the touch detection part.
 9. Acomputer-readable non-transitory information recording medium recordinga program allowing a computer to function as a game apparatus that iscapable of pausing and resuming the progress of a game, the programallowing the computer to function as: a touch detection part detecting atouch of a user on a screen; a display part displaying a pause commandbutton at a position different from the initial touch position on thescreen while a touch is detected by the touch detection part; and apause part pausing the game when a touch of the pause command button isdetected by the touch detection part.